Compositions containing factor VIII glycoforms

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns glycosylated proteins having human factor VIII activity. In a preferred embodiment, the protein is glycosylated with oligosaccharides that include an alpha-(2,6)-linked sialic acid and a bisecting GlcNAc linked to a core beta-mannose.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/482,326 filed May 29, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/941,685 filed Nov. 8, 2010, which issued on Jun. 26, 2012 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,207,117, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/789,580, filed on Apr. 25, 2007, now abandoned, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/225,900, filed Aug. 22, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,459,525, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/006,091, filed Dec. 6, 2001, now abandoned, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 09/209,916 filed Dec. 10, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,358,703, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field

The present invention relates to factor VIII glycoforms. In particular, this invention relates to a recombinantly produced factor VIII that has a glycosylation pattern resembling the glycosylation pattern of naturally occurring human Factor VIII.

2. Background

Human factor VIII is a trace plasma glycoprotein involved as a cofactor in the activation of factor X and factor IXa. Inherited deficiency of factor VIII results in the X-linked bleeding disorder hemophilia A, which can be treated successfully with purified factor VIII. The replacement therapy of hemophilia A has evolved from the use of plasma-derived factor VIII to the use of recombinant factor VIII obtained by cloning and expressing the factor VIII cDNA in mammalian cells. (Wood et al., 1984, Nature 312: 330).

Human factor VIII has a polypeptide molecular weight of 265,000. Factor VIII has three types of domains. It has a domain organization of A1-A2-B-A3-C1-C2 and is synthesized as a single chain polypeptide of 2351 amino acids, from which a 19-amino acid signal peptide is cleaved upon translocation into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum. The B domain contains up to 50% of the mass of the factor VIII and has no known function. Due to proteolysis within the B domain and between the A2 and B domains, plasma-derived and recombinant factor VIII are isolated as a heterogeneous population of heterodimers with little or no single chain factor VIII present. It is likely that factor VIII circulates in predominantly heterodimeric form. (Lollar, Peter, 1995, Inhibitors to Coagulation Factors, edited by Louis Aledort et al., Plenum Press, pp. 3-17).

Factor VIII is also described as consisting of three major regions: an N-terminal 90-kd heavy chain, a C-terminal 80-kd light chain, and the central B domain.

Factor VIII is heavily glycosylated. Glycosylation involves the modification of the polypeptide backbone with one or more oligosaccharide groups. Glycosylation can dramatically affect the physical properties of proteins and can also be important in protein stability, secretion, and subcellular localization. Proper glycosylation can be essential for a protein's biological activity. For example, the circulation half-life of recombinant erythropoietin, a hormone involved in the regulation of the level of red blood cells, was greatly increased when its glycosylation pattern was changed. For years Amgen discarded 80% of the recombinant erythropoietin it generated because of inadequate glycosylation, which resulted in unacceptably rapid clearing from the blood. When two extra sugars were added to those normally found on erythropoietin, a new drug, sold as Aranesp®, was developed that stays in the blood much longer than the original drug and thus requires less frequent dosing. (Maeder, Thomas, Sci. Amer., July 2002, pp. 40-47).

The oligosaccharide groups that create mammalian glycosylation patterns are derived from roughly ten simple sugars that can join with each other at many different points to form intricate branching patterns. Not only can a sugar add to another sugar at many different locations in the first sugar's structure, but the addition can also be in different orientations such as when the newly added sugar points above or below the plane of the ring of the first sugar. Because of these two factors, even the simplest sugars in the human body can combine in so many different ways that more than 15 million four-component oligosaccharides are theoretically possible. (Id.).

Glycosylation occurs at specific locations on the polypeptide backbone. It occurs typically when O-linked oligosaccharides are attached to threonine or serine residues and when N-linked oligosaccharides are attached to asparagine residues when they are part of the sequence Asn-X-Ser/Thr, where X can be any amino acid except proline. Although different oligosaccharides are present in glycosylation, one sugar, N-acetylneuraminic acid (commonly known as sialic acid), is commonly found on both N-linked and O-linked oligosaccharides. Sialic acid is usually the terminal sugar residue on N-linked and O-linked oligosaccharides.

Human factor VIII has 25 potential N-linked glycosylation sites, 19 of which are in the B domain. Of the glycosylation sites in the B domain, at least 75% are occupied. The A1 subunit has two potential N-linked glycosylation sites, at least one of which is occupied. The A2 subunit has a single unoccupied site. The light chain (subunits A3, C1 and C2) has two potential N-linked glycosylation sites, at least one of which is occupied. (Lollar, supra, at 1-5).

Due to the fact that factor VIII is heavily glycosylated, high-level expression (>0.2 pg/c/d) of recombinant factor VIII has been difficult to achieve (Lind et al., 1995, Eur J. Biochem. 232: 19-27; Kaufman et al., 1989, Mol Cell Biol. 9: 1233-1242). Expression of factor VIII in mammalian cells is typically 2-3 orders of magnitude lower than that observed with other genes using similar vectors and approaches. The productivity of production cell lines for factor VIII has been in the range of 0.5-1 μU/c/d (0.1-0.2 pg/c/d).

It has been demonstrated that the B-domain of factor VIII is dispensable for procoagulant activity. Because the majority of the glycosylation sites are in the B domain, the overall size of the full-length factor VIII molecule is greatly decreased by deleting this domain. Using truncated variants of factor VIII, improved expression of factor VIII in mammalian cells has been reported by various groups (Lind et al., 1995, Eur J. Biochem. 232: 19-27; Tajima et al., 1990, Proc 6^(th) Int Symp H.T. p. 51-63; U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,008 to Almstedt, 1997). However, the expression level of the factor VIII variants remained below 1 pg/c/d from a stable cell clone.

Variants of B-domain deleted recombinant Factor VIII have been made. For example, one variant, referred to herein as BDD FVIII SQ (SEQ ID NO: 1), has been genetically engineered to replace the 908 amino acids of the B domain with a short 14 amino acid linker that is derived from the N- and C-terminal ends of the B domain. BDD FVIII SQ is sold by Wyeth/Genetics Institute under the trade name ReFacto®. It is produced in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and secreted as a heterodimer. (Sandberg, H. et al., 2001, Seminars in Hematology, Vol. 38, No. 2, Suppl. 4, pp. 4-12).

BDD FVIII SQ contains six consensus N-linked glycosylation sites. Three sites are in the heavy chain at Asn⁴¹, Asn²³⁹ and Asn⁵⁸² while three sites are in the light chain at Asn¹⁶⁸⁵, Asn¹⁸¹⁰ and Asn²¹¹⁸. In BDD FVIII SQ produced in CHO cells, four of the six N-linked consensus sites are glycosylated and no N-linked carbohydrate was detected at the remaining consensus sites. Glycosylation was noted at Asn⁴¹, Asn²³⁹, Asn¹⁸¹⁰ and Asn²¹¹⁸. Most of the glycans attached to Asn²³⁹ and Asn²¹¹⁸ are high-mannose structures, while the majority of the glycans at Asn⁴¹ and Asn¹⁸¹⁰ are of the complex type and were predominantly sialylated, core fucosylated, and bi- and tri-antennal glycans with poly-N-acetyllactosamine repeat units. (Id. at 8).

It is an object of the present invention to provide a recombinantly produced molecule having factor VIII activity for use as a human pharmaceutical that can be produced in high yield. It is believed that the biological efficacy of such a molecule would be enhanced by having a glycosylation pattern, including specific oligosaccharide structures, that resembles or is identical to the glycosylation pattern in naturally produced human factor VIII. In particular, it is believed that the in vivo half-life in humans of a protein having factor VIII activity would be increased if the protein had a human glycosylation pattern. Also, it is believed that such a protein may have a higher specific activity in vivo. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a molecule having factor VIII activity that also has one or more oligosaccharides attached at N-linked glycosylation sites that are identical to or closely resemble the oligosaccharides found at N-linked glycosylation sites in naturally produced human factor VIII.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

We have now discovered an isolated glycosylated protein having factor VIII procoagulant activity and a human glycosylation pattern that can be produced in high yield. More particularly, the glycosylation pattern includes an N-linked oligosaccharide that contains alpha-(2,6)-linked sialic acid and a bisecting N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) linked to a core beta-mannose. Because such a glycosylation pattern is present in naturally occurring human factor VIII, it is believed that the pharmaceutical properties of the inventive protein are superior to other isolated proteins having factor VIII activity but not an N-linked oligosaccharide that contains alpha-(2,6)-linked sialic acid and/or a bisecting N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) linked to a core beta-mannose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1. Amino Acid Sequence of BDD FVIII SQ (SEQ ID NO:1).

FIG. 2. Sequence of terminal repeat (TR) sequence isolated from Epstein-Barr virus (SEQ ID NO:2).

FIG. 3. Plasmid map of pCIS25DTR.

FIG. 4( a). Derivation of clone 20B8.

FIG. 4( b). Comparison of productivities of several clones in various media. Three data points are presented from a two month stability test of each clone.

FIG. 5. Volumetric productivity of clone 20B8.

FIG. 6. Anion exchange chromatographic profile of 2-aminobenzamide labeled oligosaccharides from BDD FVIII SQ produced in HKB11 cells. The top panel represents total oligosaccharide (OS) pool, the middle panel represents total OS pool digested with NDV neuraminidase and the bottom panel represents total OS pool digested with A. ureafaciens neuraminidase.

FIG. 7. MALDI mass spectrometric analysis of BDD FVIII SQ produced in HKB11 cells.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, isolated glycosylated proteins having factor VIII activity are provided. In a preferred embodiment, the protein is glycosylated with oligosaccharides that include an alpha-(2,6)-linked sialic acid and/or a bisecting GlcNAc linked to a core beta-mannose.

Preferably, the invention is directed to a glycosylated protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 and a human glycosylation pattern. More preferably, the invention is directed to a glycosylated protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 and oligosaccharide comprising alpha-(2,6)-linked sialic acid and/or a bisecting GlcNAc linked to a core beta-mannose. Preferably, this glycosylated protein is isolated.

In another embodiment, the invention is directed to a glycosylated protein having a 90-kd heavy chain and an 80-kd light chain linked by a linker polypeptide of about 14 amino acids, wherein the protein has factor VIII procoagulant activity in humans and a human glycosylation pattern. Preferably, the invention is directed to a glycosylated protein having a 90-kd heavy chain and an 80-kd light chain linked by a linker polypeptide of about 14 amino acids, wherein the protein has factor VIII procoagulant activity in humans and N-linked oligosaccharides comprising alpha-(2,6)-linked sialic acid and/or a bisecting GlcNAc linked to a core beta-mannose.

In another embodiment, the invention is directed to a protein having Factor VIII procoagulent activity, wherein the amino acid sequence of the protein and the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 have at least 62% identity and the protein has an N-linked oligosaccharide comprising alpha-(2,6)-linked sialic acid and/or a bisecting GlcNAc linked to a core beta-mannose. More preferably, the percent identity is at least 72%, still more preferably at least 82%, yet more preferably at least 92%, and still yet more preferably at least 95%.

Percent identity is determined from an optimal global alignment between the two sequences being compared. An optimal global alignment is achieved using, for example, the Needleman-Wunsch algorithm disclosed at Needleman and Wunsch, 1970, J. Mol. Biol. 48:443-453, which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety. Preferably, percent identity is determined by using the Needle implementation of the Needleman-Wunsch algorithm, which is available at the website of the European Bioinformatics Institute, EMBL-EBI, www.ebi.ac.uk. “Identity” means that an amino acid at a particular position in a first polypeptide is identical to a corresponding amino acid in a second polypeptide that is in an optimal global alignment with the first polypeptide. By the statement “sequence A is n % identical to sequence B” is meant that n % of the positions of an optimal global alignment between sequences A and B consists of identical residues. Optimal global alignments in this disclosure used the following parameters in the Needleman-Wunsch alignment algorithm for polypeptides: Substitution matrix: blosum62. Gap scoring function: Gap penalty 10.0, Extend penalty 0.5.

The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising a therapeutically effective amount of one or more of the glycosylated proteins of the invention in admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant. Glycosylated proteins having Factor VIII activity are preferably administered parenterally. Preferred formulations for parenteral administration include buffered saline and albumin. Also preferred are the formulations disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,763,401, issued Jun. 9, 1998 (Rajiv Nayar), which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Another preferred formulation includes sodium chloride, sucrose, L-histidine, calcium chloride and polysorbate 80. Another preferred formulation includes sucrose, glycine, histidine, calcium chloride, sodium chloride, polysorbate 80, imidazole, tri-n-butyl phosphate and copper. Preferred formulations do not include any toxic agents, such as toxic solubilizing agents like sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS).

The required dosages are within the skill of those in the art to determine. For example, minor hemorrhaging in a patient with severe hemophilia A may be treated with 10-20 international units (IU) per kg body weight, which can be repeated if evidence of further bleeding. Moderate to major hemorrhaging in such a patient may be treated with 15-30 IU per kg body weight, which can be repeated at 12-24 hours if needed. Major to life-threatening hemorrhaging in such a patient may be treated with an initial dose of 40-50 IU/kg repeated at a dose of 20-25 IU/kg every 8 to 12 hours. For major surgical procedures to such a patient, the protein can be administered preoperatively at 50 IU/kg repeated as necessary after 6 to 12 hours. One IU, as defined by the World Health Organization standard for blood coagulation Factor VIII, human, is approximately equal to the level of Factor VIII activity found in 1 mL of fresh pooled human plasma.

The invention is also directed to methods of treating a factor VIII-associated disorder such as hemophilia by administering to a human in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention. The invention is also directed to methods of preparing one of the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention by mixing the protein having factor VIII procoagulent activity with a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant.

Preferably, the glycosylated protein is the product of recombinant cell production, and the glycosylation is the result of the normal post-translational cell functioning of the host cell. For example, the vector and cell line described in Example 1 infra can be used to produce the glycosylated protein of the invention.

Alternatively, glycosylation can be achieved through chemical modification of a protein having factor VIII activity. In yet a further alternative, the protein can be glycosylated by the addition of an enzyme that acts to add alpha-(2,6)-linked sialic acid to a host cell that expresses the protein having factor VIII activity but does not endogenously produce such an enzyme. For example, dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) deficient CHO cells are commonly used host cells for recombinant glycoprotein production. Yet CHO cells do not endogenously express the enzyme beta-galactoside alpha-2,6 sialyltransferase, which is used to add sialic acid in the 2,6 linkage to galactose on the mannose alpha-1,3 branch. To add sialic acid at this linkage to a protein produced in CHO cells, the CHO cells can be transfected with a functional beta-galactosidase alpha-2,6 sialyltransferase gene to allow for incorporation of sialic acid in the 2,6 linkage to galactose as desired. (See Lee et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1989, 264:13848 for discussion of techniques for creating modified CHO cells).

Similarly, a bisecting GlcNAc can be added to a recombinantly produced protein having factor VIII activity by transfecting a host cell that does not endogenously produce this oligosaccharide linkage with the functional gene for the enzyme N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase, which has been reported to catalyze formation of a bisecting GlcNAc structure.

The proteins of the present invention can be produced at the industrial scale using the newly created cell host described in Example 1 at specific productivities in the range of 2-4 pg/cell/day (10-20 μU/c/d). Under serum-free conditions, one clone has sustained a daily productivity of 2-4 pg/c/d. Clones with this high level of productivity are able to produce 3-4 million units per day in a 15-liter perfusion fermenter. One unit of factor VIII activity is by definition the activity present in one milliliter of plasma. One pg of factor VIII is generally equivalent to about 5 μU of factor VIII activity.

As used herein, a protein having factor VIII procoagulant activity is a protein that causes the activation of factor X in an in vitro or in vivo model system. As non-limiting examples, this definition includes full-length recombinant human factor VIII and BDD FVIII SQ (SEQ ID NO: 1) whose sequence is described in FIG. 1.

As used herein, a human glycosylation pattern in a protein having factor VIII activity is a pattern of O- or N-linked oligosaccharides that are found in naturally occurring human factor VIII, when only the oligosaccharides in the domains or attached to the N- and O-linked glycosylation sites that are shared in common between the protein and naturally occurring factor VIII are compared. For example, in a recombinant B domain-deleted factor VIII, a human glycosylation pattern is found when the same N- or O-linked oligosaccharides found in naturally occurring human factor VIII (excepting those in the B domain) are found in the recombinant B domain-deleted factor VIII.

It is understood that the inventive glycosylated proteins may contain other oligosaccharides in addition to the two specified oligosaccharides discussed herein, namely, alpha-(2,6)-linked sialic acid and/or a bisecting GlcNAc linked to a core beta-mannose.

As used herein, an isolated protein is a protein substantially free of other proteins. For example, isolated proteins of the invention are at least 50%, more preferably at least 75% and still more preferably at least 90% by weight of the total protein matter present. An isolated protein having Factor VIII procoagulent activity preferably has an activity of greater than 5000 IU/mg protein, and more preferably has an activity of greater than 10,000 IU/mg protein.

In the case of amino acid sequences that are less than 100% identical to a reference sequence, the non-identical positions are preferably, but not necessarily, conservative substitutions for the reference sequence. Conservative substitutions typically include substitutions within the following groups: glycine and alanine; valine, isoleucine, and leucine; aspartic acid and glutamic acid; asparagine and glutamine; serine and threonine; lysine and arginine; and phenylalanine and tyrosine.

Proteins referred to herein as “recombinant” are proteins or polypeptides produced by the expression of recombinant nucleic acids.

A high level of expression of a protein having factor VIII procoagulant activity means at least about 2 μU/c/d, or more preferably at least about 4 μU/c/d, or most preferably at least about 5 μU/c/d, of factor VIII activity if grown in plasma derived protein-free medium, or at least about 4 μU/c/d, or more preferably at least about 8 μU/c/d, or most preferably at least about 10 μU/c/d, of factor VIII activity if grown in medium supplemented with plasma derived protein. When the protein expressed is BDD-FVIII, cell lines having specific productivities up to about 15 μU/c/d, more preferably up to about 20 μU/c/d may be obtained by the method described herein.

As used herein to describe the origin of cell lines, “derived from” is intended to include, but not be limited to, normal mitotic cell division and processes such as transfections, cell fusions, or other genetic engineering techniques used to alter cells or produce cells with new properties.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Preparation of BDD FVIII SQ

1.1 FVIII Assay

The activity of factor VIII derivatives obtained from recombinant gene expression in methotrexate (MTX)-resistant cell populations was measured by a chromogenic assay. Activity was quantitated using Coatest® factor VIII:C/4 kit (Cromogenix, Molndal, Sweden) according to manufacturer's instructions. A U.S. standard anti-hemophilic factor (factor VIII) known as MEGA 1 (Office of Biologics Research and Review, Bethesda, Md.) was used as the standard of measurement in this assay (see Barrowcliffe, 1993, Thromb Haem 70: 876).

1.2 Construction of Expression Vectors for B-Domain Deleted FVIII

The sequence of the BDD FVIII SQ is shown in FIG. 1. The 90-kD and 80-kD chains were linked by a linker consisting of 14 amino acids. (See U.S. Pat. No. 5,952,198, issued Sep. 14, 1999 (Sham-Yuen Chan) for production method, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety). The expression vector for BDD FVIII SQ was made using standard recombinant DNA techniques. The structure of the expression vector (pCIS25DTR) is shown in FIG. 3. The vector includes a transcriptional unit for BDD FVIII SQ and a selectable marker, dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr). In addition, a terminal repeat sequence from Epstein-Barr virus, which shows enhanced drug selection ratio, (FIG. 2) was inserted into the vector to increase the integration efficiency. The vector is essentially a construct of a vector (deposited ATCC 98879) that has been engineered to include a transcriptional unit corresponding to the sequence shown in FIG. 1. (See U.S. Pat. No. 6,180,108, issued Jan. 30, 2001 (Myung-Sam Cho and Sham-Yuen Chan) for discussion of the terminal repeat sequence, which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety).

Similar vectors can be constructed and used by those having skill in the art to obtain cells expressing proteins having factor VIII procoagulant activity. For example, coding sequences coding for known variants of factor VIII which retain procoagulant activity can be substituted for the BDD FVIII SQ coding sequence. Also, instead of dhfr, other selectable markers can be used, such as glutamine synthetase (gs) or multidrug-resistance gene (mdr). The choice of a selection agent must be made accordingly, as is known in the art, i.e. for dhfr, the preferred selection agent is methotrexate, for gs the preferred selection agent is methionine sulfoximine, and for mdr the preferred selection agent is colchicine.

1.3 Derivation of Cell Lines Expressing BDD FVIII SQ: Transfection, Drug Selection and Gene Amplification

Thirty micrograms of pCIS25DTR DNA was transferred into HKB11 (ATCC deposit no. CRL 12568), which is a hybrid of 293S cells and human Burkitt's lymphoma cells. (See U.S. Pat. No. 6,136,599, issued Oct. 24, 2000 (Myung-Sam Cho), incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). The DNA was transferred into the cells by electroporation set at 300 volts and 300 micro farads (BTX Electro cell Manipulator 600) using a 2 mm cuvette (BTX part #620). In comparative experiments done to parallel work with the HKB11 cells, CHO (Chinese hamster ovary) and 293S (human embryonic kidney) cells were transfected using a cationic lipid reagent DMRIE-C (Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.) according to a protocol provided by the Life Technologies. Amplification of transfected cells was done with increasing methotrexate (MTX) concentrations (100 nM, 200 nM, 400 nM, and 800 nM) at 1×10⁶ cells per 96 well plate in a MTX-selection medium lacking hypoxanthine and thymidine (DME/F12 media without hypoxanthine and thymidine plus 5% dialyzed fetal bovine serum from Hyclone, Logan, Utah). MTX resistant cells were scored for growth, and secretion of the BDD-FVIII was screened using a Coatest® factor VIII kit about 2-3 weeks post-transfection. The cultivation of cells were done at 37° C. in a humidified 5% CO₂ incubator.

1.4 Limiting Dilution Cloning

Single cell clones (SCC) were derived by limiting dilution cloning (LDC) of high producing populations in 96 well plates under serum-free conditions. Cells were seeded at 1-10 cells per well in DME/F12 media supplemented with Humulin® recombinant insulin (Lilly, Indianapolis, Ind.) at 10 μg/ml, 10× essential amino acids (Life Technology, Gaithersburg, Md.), and Plasmanate® human plasma protein fraction (Bayer, Clayton, N.C.). Plasmanate® human plasma protein (HPP) fraction contains human albumin (88%) and various globulins (12%). The clones were screened for BDD-FVIII productivity using the Coatest® factor VIII kits. The highest producing clones were selected for stability evaluation in shake flasks. For HKB cells, the first round LDC was performed using selection medium supplemented with 5% dialyzed FBS. The second round LDC was done in serum-free but Plasmanate® HPP fraction-containing medium using the first SCC adapted in serum-free medium supplemented with Plasmanate® HPP fraction.

1.5 Derivation of HKB Clone 20B8

As summarized in FIG. 4( a), the initial population 1C10 was derived from the HKB cells transfected with pCIS25DTR after amplification with 400 nM MTX in the selection medium with 5% FBS. One of the first single cell clones (SCCs), 10A8, derived from 1C10 by a LDC using a selection medium supplemented with 5% FBS was adapted in serum-free medium supplemented with Plasmanate® HPP fraction. Unexpectedly, 10A8 showed extremely increased levels of rFVIII production at this stage (FIG. 4 b). Therefore, we did a second LDC using the medium supplemented with Plasmanate® HPP fraction. The productivity of SCCs (e.g. 20B8) derived from the second LDC was similar with Plasmanate® HPP fraction-adapted 10A8. 20B8 showed higher levels of BDD-FVIII than original 10A8 derived from the first LDC in serum-containing medium. Finally, 20B8 was adapted to growth in plasma protein-free (PPF) medium. Samples of 20B8 were deposited at the American Type Culture Collection (Manassas, Va.) (ATCC deposit no. CRL-12582).

As shown in Table 1, HKB clones exhibit superior productivity for BDD-FVIII. A 10-20 fold increase in productivity was observed in HKB cells when compared to clones derived from transfected CHO and 293S cells. HKB cells, which do not form large aggregates of cells when grown in suspension culture, are preferred cells for the expression of proteins having factor VIII procoagulant activity.

TABLE 1 Expression of FVIII and BDD FVIII SQ in human and rodent cell lines Specific Productivity (μU/c/d)* FVIII Derivatives BHK 293s CHO HKB Full length FVIII 0.45 1.2 0.5 1.0 BDD FVIII SQ ND 2.5 1.0 20 *Average of 5 high producing clones (in serum-free media) ND = Not done 1.6 Plasma-Protein-Free Adaptation of Clones

HKB clones that have been adapted to grow as serum-free suspension cultures were further weaned of plasma protein supplements. The weaning was done in sterile polycarbonate shake flasks (Corning, Corning, N.Y.) at a cell density of about 0.5×10⁶ cells/ml using plasma derived protein free medium. The plasma protein free (PPF) medium was DME/F12 medium supplemented with pluronic F68 (0.1%), CuSO₄ (50 nM), and FeSO₄/EDTA (50 μM). Complete medium exchange was done every 48 hours and the shake flasks were re-seeded at 0.5×10⁶ cells/ml.

1.7 Fermentation of Clone 20B8

The productivity of clone 20B8 was evaluated in a 15-liter perfusion fermenter. The fermenter was seeded with clone 20B8 cells at a density of about 3×10⁶ cells/ml. The fermenter was perfused at a rate of 4 volumes per day with the serum-free production medium as described in the preceding paragraph. A final cell density of 2×10⁷ cells/ml was sustained throughout the evaluation period (45 days). As shown in FIG. 5, during the first 4 weeks of fermentation, clone 20B8 was perfused with the serumfree production medium supplemented with Plasmanate® HPP fraction and was able to sustain high productivity. From day 28 to the end of the fermentation run, the cells were perfused with the same serumfree production medium but without Plasmanate® HPP fraction. As shown in FIG. 5, the cells continued to produce high levels of FVIII in a plasma derived protein-free environment. “Plasma derived protein-free” means that essentially no proteins isolated from plasma have been added to the medium.

Example 2 Characterization of Type of Linkage of Sialic Acid of BDD FVIII SQ

BDD Factor VIII SQ was purified as described in Biochemistry 25:8343-8347 (1986) using ion exchange and affinity chromatography. The matrix 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) was purchased from Aldrich Chemical Company, USA. HPLC grade trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) was from Pierce, USA. Baker analyzed HPLC grade acetonitrile was from J T Baker, USA. Newcastle disease virus neuraminidase was purchased from Sigma Chemical Co., USA. All consumable reagents for the GlycoPrep 1000, 2-amino benzamide (2-AB), GlycoSep C column, A. ureafaciens neuraminidase and standard oligosaccharides were purchased from Oxford GlycoSciences (OGS), Abingdon, UK.

Oligosaccharide analyses were done by dialyzing purified BDD FVIII SQ against Milli-Q water to remove salt and buffers. The desalted BDD FVIII SQ was dried in glass reactor vials for 18 hours using a SpeedVac. Oligosaccharides were released by chemical hydrazinolysis using a GlycoPrep 1000 system from OGS. The liberated pool of oligosaccharides was filtered and dried immediately in a SpeedVac to minimize the loss of terminal sialic acids.

The released total oligosaccharide pool was coupled to 2-aminobenzamide (2-AB). Briefly, oligosaccharides were dissolved in 5 ml of a solution of 2-AB (0.35M) in dimethylsulfoxide/glacial acetic acid (30% v/v) containing sodium cyanoborohydride (1 M). The glycan solution was then incubated at 65° C. for 2 h. After the conjugation with 2-AB, the reaction mixture was applied to a cellulose disk (1 cm in diameter) in a glass holder. The disk was washed with 1 ml of acetonitrile followed by 5×1 ml 4% deionized water in acetonitrile to remove unreacted dye and non-glycan materials. Labeled glycans were eluted using three washes (0.5 ml) of water and then filtered (0.2 mm).

Labeled oligosaccharides were separated with a DEAE anion-exchange column on the basis of their terminal sialic acid content. The column size was 4.6 mm×100 mm with a bed volume of 1.7 ml. A solvent gradient system of 0-200 mM ammonium acetate in 20% acetonitrile for 40 min at 0.3 ml/min was used. A high performance liquid chromatographic system equipped with an HP Ti-series 1050 pump (Hewlett Packard) was used to deliver the solvents and a programmable fluorescence detector (Hewlett Packard, model 1046A, λ_(exc)=330 nm and λ_(emiss)=420 nm) was used to detect 2-amino benzamide labeled oligosaccharide peaks. Oligosaccharide pools were desialylated by digesting with either Arthrobacter ureafaciens (Sigma, cat no N-3642) or Newcastle disease virus (OGS, cat no. X-5017) neuraminidase in 50 mM sodium acetate buffer, pH 5.0 for 6 h or 18 h at 37° C. Digested samples were purified on a microcolumn containing 150 μL each of Dowex AG50, Chelex 100, Dowex AG3 and QAE Sephadex. Samples were eluted with water, then rotary-evaporated to dryness before analysis.

FIG. 6 shows the anion-exchange chromatographic profile of 2-aminobenzamide labeled oligosaccharides from BDD FVIII SQ As shown in the middle panel of FIG. 6, digestion of BDD FVIII SQ with neuraminidase from Newcastle disease virus that is specific for alpha (2,3)-linked sialic acid did not eliminate all the sialic acid peaks. Upon digestion of BDD FVIII SQ with neuraminidase from A. ureafaciens (capable of removing sialic acid of alpha (2,3) and alpha-(2,6) linkages), all the sialic acid peaks were eliminated (bottom panel of FIG. 6) as compared to undigested BDD FVIII SQ (top panel of FIG. 6). The neuraminidase digestion studies indicate that BDD FVIII SQ is capped with sialic acid of both alpha-(2,3) and alpha-(2,6) linkage.

Example 3 Characterization of Bisecting Oligosaccharide Linkage of BDD FVIII SQ Using MALDI Mass Spectrometric Analysis

The 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) matrix was prepared by dissolving 10 mg DHB in 1 mL 70% acetonitrile. Sample plates were dried after loading sample and matrix.

The mass spectrometer used to acquire the spectra was a Voyager DE-RP (PerSeptive Biosystems, Inc., Framingham, Mass.). All samples (protein and carbohydrates) were analyzed using delayed extraction mode and without the reflectron by irradiating with UV light (337 nm) from a N₂ laser. Neutral oligosaccharides were analyzed in the positive-ion mode at 25 kV using the DHB matrix. The delay time was set at 100 ns for oligosaccharide samples and at 150 ns for protein samples. The grid voltage was set to 94% and 89.5% of the accelerating voltage for oligosaccharides.

A two point external calibration (oligosaccharides high-mannose Man-5 [(M+Na)⁻ _(Avg) 1258] and NA3 [desialylated triantennary, (M+Na)⁻ _(Avg) 2029]) was used for mass assignment of the ions. Typically, spectra from 128-264 laser shots were summed to obtain the final spectrum.

As shown in FIG. 7 and Table 2, the FVIII-SQ has complex carbohydrate structures. These structures consist of biantennary, tri- and tetra-antennary oligosaccharide alditols. In addition, a unique bisecting GlcNAc was identified. This bisecting GlcNAc structure has been reported to be catalyzed by N-aceylglucosaminyltransferase, an enzyme known to be expressed in human cells.

TABLE 2 Major sodium ion (Na+)-associated oligosaccharide structures in HKB11-produced BDD FVIII SQ. Oligosaccharide Structures Theoretical mass Observed mass detected in HKB-rFVIII (with Na+ ion) (with Na+ ion) M₃Gn₂G₂ (Biantennary) 1664 1667 M₃Gn₂G₁Gn_(b) (Bisecting) 1705 1708 M₃Gn₂G₂F (Biantennary + 1810 1812 Fucosyl) M₃Gn₃G₃ (Triantennary) 2031 2033 n.d. ? 2179 M₃Gn₄G₄ (Tetraantennary) 2392 2391 n.d. Not-identified Gn = N-acetylglucosamine; G = galactose; F = fucosyl; M = mannose

The above examples are intended to illustrate the invention and it is thought variations will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the invention should be limited only by the claims below. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A preparation comprising proteins having Factor VIII procoagulant activity produced in human cells that have been adapted to grow as serum-free suspension cultures in the absence of plasma derived proteins, wherein the proteins having Factor VIII procoagulant activity comprise the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 and comprise N-linked oligosaccharides having an alpha-(2,6)-linked sialic acid, and wherein the proteins having Factor VIII procoagulant activity are genetically engineered to replace the 908 amino acids of the B-domain with a 14 amino acid linker.
 2. The preparation of claim 1, wherein the proteins having Factor VIII procoagulant activity have bisecting GlcNAc linked to a core beta-mannose.
 3. A method for treating hernophilia A comprising administering to a human in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the preparation of claim
 1. 4. A method for treating hemophilia A comprising administering to a human in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the preparation of claim
 2. 